A Continental lady named Salome Merckling who became an Englishwoman

[Malivrag]

I had a rather interesting discovery while doing some research. I was having trouble finding a birth record for Alfred Denhart, who was born in Hoxton about 1878, married in 1905, and had a family. Then I discovered that he and his mother and siblings went into the workhouse in St Mary Islington in 1885.

In September of that year, Florence Denhart, age 36, a charwoman by profession, entered the workhouse with her young children Florence (11) and William (9), from her marriage to her late husband, and Alfred (6) and James (5), who are noted as her illegitimate sons by one Thomas Shipman. In October they were ordered removed to the parish of St Leonard's Shoreditch.

I found Florence and her three sons in 1891, now living in London under the name Shipman and working as a laundress. She is listed as married but there is no husband present. I went searching for the birth records of her children. Her birthplace seems to say "Strasburg" (probably the city called Strassbourg in Alsace). As far as I can tell, Alfred and James have no birth records, not under Denhart nor Shipman. But I did find the birth records for her elder children, where her maiden name is quite unusual -- Merckling.

Alfred's marriage record lists his father as Tobias Denhart. Tobias Denhart did marry in 1872, to a woman named Salome Merckling. I believe I found her in 1871, working as a nurse in a household in Ealing, Middlesex. Her birthplace is given as France. I don't know why Salome chose to go by Florence, but it certainly seems this is the right woman.

Finally, I located her little family in 1881. Salome (now Florence) is living with William (not Thomas!) Shipman in Shoreditch with her two little boys and her daughter, Florence. William is working as a cabman. Florence's birthplace is again given as France, "British Subject". I don't know what happened to William Shipman, but in 1885, as I mentioned before, Florence and her young children would go to the workhouse.

At last, in 1901, Florence has reverted back to the Denhart name and is living in Fulham on her own. Quite a long way from Salome Merckling from Strassbourg!

[louisa maud]

Have you found her on 1911?

Louisa Maud

[heywood]

Here she is in the workhouse in 1911

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWLD-7VY

[DCB]

Familysearch has her as Salome Merklin, born 12th November, 1850, daughter of George Mercklin and Madelilaine Ostheimer, in Barr, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France..

On two trees, she died on 13th November 1918 in Kensington Instition (Institution?).

David

[louisa maud]

I found a death for her 1918 if she is the right person, Kensington, agree with David, her death cert would be a good idea

Were there any baptisms for the children?

LM

[GrahamSimons]

On marrying a British husband, she would automatically have gained British nationality at the time (and I suspect lost her other nationality).

[jonw65]

Here she is in the workhouse in 1911

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWLD-7VY

Admitted 6.2.11
A widow, born 1850
Admitted from 31 Greenside Rd
Creed C E
Relative Daughter in Law, same address
Discharged to Infirmary 31.5.11

She is back from there 9.6.11
Son Wm
Royal Marines
HMS something in Chatham!
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-L3N1-K2B7

[Mabel Bagshawe]

I think Mr Shipman is more likely to be William than Thomas. James marries as Denhart, father William Denhart (dec), cabman.

[jonw65]

Well Mr Shipman is William in 1881
And he is a cabman
Wife Florence born France
Living Shoreditch
Link to Florence
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27S-H2M7

Deliberate mistake now corrected!